Reginald made three broad steps to the door, nearly running into the woman as she ran out of the bathroom topless, demanding to know if he heard gunfire and then screaming when she saw that he had a pistol. “What’s going on?” she shouted as Archer pushed her against the wall to throw the door open, only to see a winecart and the slumped and bleeding body of a hotel worker.
“What the?” Reginald voiced when two fists slammed against his back. It wasn’t a strong hit, but enough to knock him off balance into the hallway, while the woman screamed for him to get out and that she was calling the police.
“Reginald!” Travis shouted, running towards him. “It wasn’t me, it was...” he tried to explain as the drunken man, shocked sober, stumbled down the hallway to see the body and then ran the other direction quickly, shouting for help. “Is he?”
“We need to get out of here,” Reginald said in the calmest voice he could muster, and immediately broke into a run towards the nearest stairway. It was wired to activate the fire alarm when it was opened, and claxons sounded as he ran as quickly as he could out of the building, with Travis attempting to keep up behind him.
“It was a set-up,” Reginald thought as he practically flew down the stairs. “There’s no other explanation, I’ve been targeted. Someone is trying to break me.” He swallowed hard as he busted through the ground floor exit door when he noted that it was working.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Chapter 3 - 16
Travis arched his head to try to get a look at the woman before Reginald stepped into the room. “Huh. Looks like a regular ol’ horny cougar to me,” he muttered to himself. He had started talking to himself more and more, realizing that nobody was actually paying attention to him and so he could think out loud without consequence. He found it very comforting to know he had the world technically all to himself when he tried to pass the time late at night, while he practiced jumping from rooftop to rooftop.
He kept alert, scanning the hallways and even looking out the windows to see if there was another No One hanging about, but could find no sign. He was patient, his mind wandering to what exactly was happening in the room. “He wouldn’t, would he?”
He heard the elevator ding, and looked quickly to see a hotel worker, pushing a winecart. No tinge of recognition fired, so he calmed a bit and watched as the man stopped in front of the room Reginald went into. “Oh, wine. Obviously.”
He heard a door open behind him, and suddenly a pealing burst of laughter emitted, and a drunken man stumbled into the hall, loudly slurring through a song as he tripped across the hall straight into a painting. The hotel worker looked in his direction to see what the ruckus was about.
“What are the odds?” Travis said, a little stunned by the coincidence, when he heard the sound of gunfire.
He kept alert, scanning the hallways and even looking out the windows to see if there was another No One hanging about, but could find no sign. He was patient, his mind wandering to what exactly was happening in the room. “He wouldn’t, would he?”
He heard the elevator ding, and looked quickly to see a hotel worker, pushing a winecart. No tinge of recognition fired, so he calmed a bit and watched as the man stopped in front of the room Reginald went into. “Oh, wine. Obviously.”
He heard a door open behind him, and suddenly a pealing burst of laughter emitted, and a drunken man stumbled into the hall, loudly slurring through a song as he tripped across the hall straight into a painting. The hotel worker looked in his direction to see what the ruckus was about.
“What are the odds?” Travis said, a little stunned by the coincidence, when he heard the sound of gunfire.
Chapter 3 - 15
“Reginald, you made it,” the woman said as she answered the door in only a bathrobe. “I had given up hope.”
“Well, there was some networking I needed to do, and I lost track of the time.”
“No excuses. Come in,” she said, taking a step back.
“By the way,” Archer said as she closed the door behind him. “I...never got your name.”
“Oh, do you really need that?” she responding, sauntering into the small hotel room. Reginald found himself backing up instinctively, searching for somewhere to sit down. “You nervous, Mr. Archer?”
“I’m sorry, I try to separate business from pleasure, and I haven’t yet made the disconnect. Do you have anything to drink?”
“I have a bottle of wine on the way,” she said with a shy smile. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m a little unseemly. I’ll just be a minute.” The woman stepped into the bathroom.
Archer’s senses immediately sharpened, his nervousness reaching a fever point, and he began to scan the room in earnest. He didn’t feel anything, still no recognition, still no sign that anyone was behind this. The fact that she remembered him unsettled him to no end, and as he waited, tense, he realized that he didn’t have an exit strategy. This was a stupid idea, he thought, and was just about to leave while he still could when he heard movement on the other side of the front door.
“Come on, Travis,” he whispered, reaching under his coat jacket to grab his sidearm. “Give me the signal.”
“Well, there was some networking I needed to do, and I lost track of the time.”
“No excuses. Come in,” she said, taking a step back.
“By the way,” Archer said as she closed the door behind him. “I...never got your name.”
“Oh, do you really need that?” she responding, sauntering into the small hotel room. Reginald found himself backing up instinctively, searching for somewhere to sit down. “You nervous, Mr. Archer?”
“I’m sorry, I try to separate business from pleasure, and I haven’t yet made the disconnect. Do you have anything to drink?”
“I have a bottle of wine on the way,” she said with a shy smile. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m a little unseemly. I’ll just be a minute.” The woman stepped into the bathroom.
Archer’s senses immediately sharpened, his nervousness reaching a fever point, and he began to scan the room in earnest. He didn’t feel anything, still no recognition, still no sign that anyone was behind this. The fact that she remembered him unsettled him to no end, and as he waited, tense, he realized that he didn’t have an exit strategy. This was a stupid idea, he thought, and was just about to leave while he still could when he heard movement on the other side of the front door.
“Come on, Travis,” he whispered, reaching under his coat jacket to grab his sidearm. “Give me the signal.”
Friday, February 5, 2010
Chapter 3 - 14
“So, what do we think? Mind control? Can anyone actually pull off mind control?” Travis asked as he and Archer walked through the hotel hallway.
“Listen, Travis, I am not going to make any assumptions until I have more information, alright?” Reginald hadn’t planned to bring Travis along, but as he was approaching the hotel, he saw Travis on the street, and asked him if he had seen Alan in the past few hours. Travis hadn’t, and noticing Reginald’s slight agitation, asked if he could help. Archer checked his watch and noticed that the window would likely close soon, so he let Travis come along, under strict conditions.
“But what if this is an elaborate trap?” Travis asked. “What if someone like Fierce is waiting for you?”
“Fierce isn’t nearly clever enough,” Archer said. He muttered to himself, “maybe this Reverend is though.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing, Travis. Okay, this is the room. Take up position over there,” Archer said, pointing down the hall. “And if you see anyone you recognize approach the room, come around the corner and ask belligerently drunk. Noisy as possible.”
“What? But I…”
“You wanted to help, and that’s what I need right now. Some forewarning if something happens. Now go.”
Travis stuttered, then walked down the hallway to the area Reginald indicated. “Won’t they be able to tell who I am though?” he whispered to himself.
Archer checked his face and hair in a mirror, finding it to be as refined and handsome as usual, and brushed off his suit before knocking on the door.
“Listen, Travis, I am not going to make any assumptions until I have more information, alright?” Reginald hadn’t planned to bring Travis along, but as he was approaching the hotel, he saw Travis on the street, and asked him if he had seen Alan in the past few hours. Travis hadn’t, and noticing Reginald’s slight agitation, asked if he could help. Archer checked his watch and noticed that the window would likely close soon, so he let Travis come along, under strict conditions.
“But what if this is an elaborate trap?” Travis asked. “What if someone like Fierce is waiting for you?”
“Fierce isn’t nearly clever enough,” Archer said. He muttered to himself, “maybe this Reverend is though.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing, Travis. Okay, this is the room. Take up position over there,” Archer said, pointing down the hall. “And if you see anyone you recognize approach the room, come around the corner and ask belligerently drunk. Noisy as possible.”
“What? But I…”
“You wanted to help, and that’s what I need right now. Some forewarning if something happens. Now go.”
Travis stuttered, then walked down the hallway to the area Reginald indicated. “Won’t they be able to tell who I am though?” he whispered to himself.
Archer checked his face and hair in a mirror, finding it to be as refined and handsome as usual, and brushed off his suit before knocking on the door.
Chapter 3 - 13
“You know what I wish?” Tina said as she and Reginald walked down the street, hand in hand after a meal at a fancy restaurant that they decided they didn’t feel like paying for.
“What’s that?”
“I wish I could remember the people I used to know. There have been hundreds of different No Ones over the years, and yet I only ‘know’ about the twenty or so that are around now. It’s sad, that someone can be so completely forgotten. And the people before I became a No One. Who are they now? You know?”
“Well, that is who we are, the forgotten. I agree it’s sad, but there’s really nothing we can do but accept it.”
“I know that’s the reasonable thing, but just think of what that means. Those people are lost to everyone, and when we finally decide we’re done…we’ll be gone too.”
Reginald stopped walking and loosened his grip. “Something you’re not telling me?”
“What? Oh, stop being paranoid. I’m just thinking out loud,” Tina said, draw close to Reginald and kissing him. “Sorry. Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.”
They kissed a long while on the street.
“And neither are you,” she said in a slightly sterner voice afterward.
“I know, I know. But…”
“What?”
“I did promise Alan I’d meet him tonight. Not long.”
Tina sighed. “Well, if you must. Don’t play too late, I’ll be at the Hanged Man.”
“Okay. No more than two hours, I promise.”
“Yeah, yeah. See you soon.” Reginald walked Tina skip away, while solemnly fingering the hotel keycard in his pocket.
“What’s that?”
“I wish I could remember the people I used to know. There have been hundreds of different No Ones over the years, and yet I only ‘know’ about the twenty or so that are around now. It’s sad, that someone can be so completely forgotten. And the people before I became a No One. Who are they now? You know?”
“Well, that is who we are, the forgotten. I agree it’s sad, but there’s really nothing we can do but accept it.”
“I know that’s the reasonable thing, but just think of what that means. Those people are lost to everyone, and when we finally decide we’re done…we’ll be gone too.”
Reginald stopped walking and loosened his grip. “Something you’re not telling me?”
“What? Oh, stop being paranoid. I’m just thinking out loud,” Tina said, draw close to Reginald and kissing him. “Sorry. Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.”
They kissed a long while on the street.
“And neither are you,” she said in a slightly sterner voice afterward.
“I know, I know. But…”
“What?”
“I did promise Alan I’d meet him tonight. Not long.”
Tina sighed. “Well, if you must. Don’t play too late, I’ll be at the Hanged Man.”
“Okay. No more than two hours, I promise.”
“Yeah, yeah. See you soon.” Reginald walked Tina skip away, while solemnly fingering the hotel keycard in his pocket.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Chapter 3 - 12
Kip let go of the machete and let the Emperor’s body fall naturally, scowling all the while.
“Goddamn nonsense,” Kip said, grabbing the envelope the Emperor still held. “Goddamn bitch, that whore, finding a goddamn loophole. I can’t believe this shit. I didn’t even get a chance to fucking say no. Stupid old man.”
Kip gave the Emperor’s body a swift kick, and then turned around. He heard the clang of metal on pavement, and turned around, finding the body gone and his machete in pristine condition, lying on the ground. “If only the clean-up for a normal was this simple,” Kip said, picking up the blade and resheathing it. “Now let’s see what this stupid-ass game is about.”
He opened the envelope and turned it upside down over his right hand. Nothing fell out of the envelope. “What the?” Kip said as he reached into the envelope and could find nothing inside. “Oh come on! How am I supposed to find it again if I don’t have any clues!”
He flipped the envelope over and saw some writing on the outside. “Penalty for reckless and dangerous behavior. First clue withheld.”
“Oh son of a bitch!” Kip shouted, tossing the envelope away. “Goddamn assholes, all of them. I can’t believe this.” He threw a flailing fit, punching walls and stomping about, roaring the while. “What kind of damn game is this!”
After a few minutes, he cooled, and breathing heavily, stood up and stalked out into the city. “I guess its time to pay a visit to that whore.”
“Goddamn nonsense,” Kip said, grabbing the envelope the Emperor still held. “Goddamn bitch, that whore, finding a goddamn loophole. I can’t believe this shit. I didn’t even get a chance to fucking say no. Stupid old man.”
Kip gave the Emperor’s body a swift kick, and then turned around. He heard the clang of metal on pavement, and turned around, finding the body gone and his machete in pristine condition, lying on the ground. “If only the clean-up for a normal was this simple,” Kip said, picking up the blade and resheathing it. “Now let’s see what this stupid-ass game is about.”
He opened the envelope and turned it upside down over his right hand. Nothing fell out of the envelope. “What the?” Kip said as he reached into the envelope and could find nothing inside. “Oh come on! How am I supposed to find it again if I don’t have any clues!”
He flipped the envelope over and saw some writing on the outside. “Penalty for reckless and dangerous behavior. First clue withheld.”
“Oh son of a bitch!” Kip shouted, tossing the envelope away. “Goddamn assholes, all of them. I can’t believe this.” He threw a flailing fit, punching walls and stomping about, roaring the while. “What kind of damn game is this!”
After a few minutes, he cooled, and breathing heavily, stood up and stalked out into the city. “I guess its time to pay a visit to that whore.”
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Chapter 3 - 11
“So what, this is just a friendly visit, Confucius?” Kip practically shouted at the Emperor. “Or maybe you’re here on business, huh? Getting bored of playing Daddy to our little tribe of misfits.”
“I accept my duties with honor,” the Emperor responded. “But that is not our topic of discussion. I come with a challenge.”
“Of course you do, Miyagi. So when am I facing up against the Great Scotsman?”
“The challenge does not come from Fierce Hampton. It is from Ms. Margaret Lawrence.”
“Are you shitting me? The big guy had to send his ‘girlfriend’ after me? Man, what a loser! Alright fine,” Kip said, fingering the hilt of his machete. “I’m no pussy, I can cut a woman. When do we fight?”
“Right now,” the Emperor said.
Kip spun, machete out, looking for his combatant. He stood aggressively for a moment before the Emperor spoke again.
“It is not that kind of challenge, Kip.”
“What are you talking about? What other kind is there?”
“The object in question has been moved to a location chosen by me. The first one to get to it keeps it,” the Emperor said, handing Kip a before-unseen envelope.
Kip quickly checked his pockets to find that his newest toy was indeed gone. “What are you playing at? Since when can you pull this, you filthy J*p?”
“The ground rules have always allowed for different variations of challenges.”
Kip buried his blade halfway through the Emperor’s skull.
“I accept my duties with honor,” the Emperor responded. “But that is not our topic of discussion. I come with a challenge.”
“Of course you do, Miyagi. So when am I facing up against the Great Scotsman?”
“The challenge does not come from Fierce Hampton. It is from Ms. Margaret Lawrence.”
“Are you shitting me? The big guy had to send his ‘girlfriend’ after me? Man, what a loser! Alright fine,” Kip said, fingering the hilt of his machete. “I’m no pussy, I can cut a woman. When do we fight?”
“Right now,” the Emperor said.
Kip spun, machete out, looking for his combatant. He stood aggressively for a moment before the Emperor spoke again.
“It is not that kind of challenge, Kip.”
“What are you talking about? What other kind is there?”
“The object in question has been moved to a location chosen by me. The first one to get to it keeps it,” the Emperor said, handing Kip a before-unseen envelope.
Kip quickly checked his pockets to find that his newest toy was indeed gone. “What are you playing at? Since when can you pull this, you filthy J*p?”
“The ground rules have always allowed for different variations of challenges.”
Kip buried his blade halfway through the Emperor’s skull.
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